The Patriotic Education in the USSR. Part One: the October Kids.

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Only those who like to work get successful in this world.

The young Soviet country could not grow and flourish without the support and patriotism of its people. From the early days of the Soviet Union, the ideology organisations aimed to target citizens of all ages, obliging them to belong in order to do well in life. So the pestering had to start early: when kids start school (the school age 7 years old in the USSR), the school ideology organisation would take them under the wing, with the prospect of nurturing the future members of the Communist Party.

The very first movement every child would belong to was called the October kids, after the Great October Revolution of 1917, after which the new government came into power.

Despite the absolute totality - for every single child it was compulsory to become an October kid - it was still a long awaited honour.

A proud Octobrist.

Usually the inauguration was an all-school celebration where each kid got a formal insignia pin to wear and the rules to life and living were announced. The pin features a ruby-red star with the portrait of young Lenin in the centre.

The inauguration ceremony was of great glory

A usual class was divided into the groups of five people in each, like little stars, which was a symbol of the Soviet regime. An older student - generally well-performing and a responsible one - would curate such a star, by giving them songs to sing, stories to listen to and doing other things to nurture the sense of patriotism. The main goal, however, was the creation of a"Pioneer Cult" and its maintenance: the next step after the Octobrists, which kids joined at the age of 9. They had their own set of rules, all rhymed, like a good proclamation to live by. The rules went as following:

There are five of our rules, let them be our only tools!

We are active kids - we are Octobrists! You, October, don't forget - communism is there yet.
We are courageous kids - we are Octobrists! We are living our life like our heroes - full of light!
We are diligent kids - we are Octobrists! Only those who like to work get successful in this world.
We are thruthful kids - we are Octobrists! Never shall betray a friend - that's the point we defend.
We are happy kids - we are Octobrists! Our songs, our laughs and dances are to share in equal stances.

We are diligent kids - we are Octobrists!

Kids of all ages enjoyed their own ideologically correct mass media - there were two popular magazines, Mourzilka and Merry Pictures. The magazines still exist, albeit they are now ideology and propaganda-free kids mags.

Mourzilka cover. 1984.

The Mourzilka character was a yellow furry creature of unknown origin, who had a camera and a very inquisitive mind. It was born in 1937 and became an instant success.

Mourzilka cover. 1966.

Merry Pictures had a humour focus and offered a variety of quizzes, puzzles, jokes, as well as many suggestions on how to create toys or give an old toy a make over. It was a fine magazine made by talented writers and artists, and it was very, very popular!

Merry Pictures.1981. Who do you want to be when you grow up?

Whatever happened to the October kids when they grew up? At the age of nine the best October kids - the ones with the best marks, good behaviour and positive feedback were to proceed to the following level of Soviet pioneering. But this is a totally different story.